GPS Tracklog: Magellan RoadMate 6000T review

UPDATE: The Magellan RoadMate series has been officially discontinued. For a more current model, check out our Magellan auto GPS comparison chart or our list of current Magellan receivers.

The Magellan RoadMate 6000T comes pre-loaded with maps of the U.S and Canada, uses the SiRFstar III chipset, and sports an integrated traffic receiver (3 month subscription included). It also has entertainment features -- MP3's and photos can be loaded to an SD card. The 6000T differentiates itself from the 3000T and 3050T primarily by incorporating Bluetooth for hands-free cellphone use.

Compare prices on the Magellan RoadMate 6000T

Before we hear from others, here's what Amazon has to say in their Magellan RoadMate 6000T review:

"Made to be user-friendly, the Magellan 6000T has a 3.5-inch touch sensitive screen that displays vibrant colors and sharp images. Simple menus and smart keys provide quick access to the 6000T's features, which include preloaded detailed maps, bird's eye 3D viewing to give you a clear sense of your surroundings, and over six million points of interest such as gas stations, restaurants, ATMs, airports, parks, historic sites, museums, and much more. The 6000T lets you select up to 20 destinations and optimize the most direct route between them, as well as store your favorite locations for the trips you take frequently. You can also customize mapping selection with the 6000T, which lets you select routes based on driving time, distance, and traffic congestion, or exclude routes you prefer to avoid, such as toll roads. And with the Auto Re-route feature to guide you, the 6000T adjusts your course if you take a detour, so you be able to get back on track easily even if you miss a turn..."

Here's what others are saying about the Magellan RoadMate 6000T:

GPS Magazine has posted an extensive Magellan RoadMate 6000T review.
Then they put it through the paces head to head, comparing the Magellan 6000T with the Garmin StreetPilot c550 and TomTom GO 910.
A GPSreview.net reader submitted their own Magellan RoadMate 6000T review.
Positive Magellan RoadMate 6000T reviews are being posted at Amazon.
The first Magellan Roadmate 6000T reviews have been posted by consumers at CNet.
PocketLint has posted a Magellan RoadMate 6000T review.
TechDigest has also posted a Magellan RoadMate 6000T review.
Laptopmag gave a 3.5 out of 5 star rating in their Magellan RoadMate 6000T review, calling it "more complicated than it needs to be."

I'll be posting more hands on GPS reviews as they appear, but in the meantime, here are some other helpful resources:

A PDF version of the Magellan RoadMate 6000T owners manual.
A Magellan RoadMate 6000T FAQ, including a list of Bluetooth compatible phones.
There is a Magellan RoadMate message forum at GpsPasSion.
There is also a Magellan GPS message forum at Yahoo, and an alt.satellite.gps.magellan UseNet group.
Want to see how the RoadMate 3000T stacks up against other units? Use this mobile Magellan GPS comparison tool.

Compare prices on the Magellan RoadMate 6000T at these merchants:

Check the current Magellan RoadMate 6000T price at Amazon.com.
Get the Magellan RoadMate 6000T Compact Bluetooth Automotive GPS System with Traffic and MP3 at Tiger GPS.
Find the Magellan RoadMate 6000T for an amazing price on eBay.

Magellan RoadMate 6000T feature list from the official RoadMate web page:

* Easy-to-use - Quick access to features through simple touch-screen menus and keypad
* Intelligently designed - Designed for easy right or left hand use, with simple menus, convenient keys and a large 3.5" color touch screen, the industrial look compliments any vehicle.
* Traffic-enabled - Integrated traffic receiver provides LIVE traffic incident reports1 to avoid accidents, road work and more. Incidents appear on screen with detailed information.
* Hands-free phone calls - BluetoothÂ® wireless technology and built-in microphone let you make hands-free phone calls using your Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. * Turn-by-turn voice and visual guidance - BE THEREâ¢ quickly and safely
* Built-in maps - 50 United States, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada.
* Birds eye 3D view - Clearly see your surroundings
* Digital Music Player - Play your favorite music while navigating through integrated speaker or headphones
* Photo Viewer - View your vacation pictures while you're still on vacation
* Rechargeable battery - Navigate and enjoy music and pictures for up to 4 hours, when you don't have access to power
* Multi-Destination Routing and Route Optimization - Select up to 20 destinations and optimize the most direct route between them
* SayWhereâ¢ text-to-speech - Hear when to make each turn including the street name
* SmartDetour - Customize the settings to automatically route you around sudden slow freeway traffic * Auto Re-route - Never miss a turn and quickly get back on track whenever you take a detour
* SmartVolumeâ¢ - Turns up the speaker at 45 MPH
* Auto night view - Adjusts color and contrast for easy night viewing
* QuickSpellâ¢ - Easily enter addresses with unique auto-complete feature
* Complete mobility - Transfer to any vehicle with no installation
* Over 6 million points of interest (POI) - Easily find gas stations, restaurants, ATMs, airports, parks and more
* Interactive POI icons - Touch an onscreen icon for a nearby destination; see phone number and get an instant route
* Customizable route method - Shortest time, shortest distance, least use or most use of freeways, avoid toll roads
* Route exclusion - Select street or freeways to avoid
* 4 easy views - Map View, 3D map, TrueViewâ¢ 3D split screen, Maneuver List
* Address Book - Create and store personal points of interest to easily route to those locations in the future
* Instant locate - One touch shows your location; quickly advise roadside assistance or emergency services